Moroccan Nationalists Ask for Renaming Streets Named After Jews

February 8, 1963

CASABLANCA (Feb. 7)

Morocco’s powerful Istiqlal party, now in the opposition, demanded today that all streets in Morocco named for Jewish leaders should be renamed.

The demand appeared in the party’s official organ, Al Alam, which said the renaming should include those streets named for persons with pro-Jewish sympathies. The journal cited the Rue Rabbi Abraham Israel in Tetuan and the Rue Belfort in Casablanca.

The periodical said that existence of streets with such names was tantamount to “planting miniature Israels” in the Moslem country. Other streets listed included Rue Moise in Essaouria, Rue Rabbi Toledano Rue de Jerusalem and Rue Rabbinical Tribunal in Mekness.